Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- breezy
- sentimental
- goofy
- christmas viewing
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film broad, thin, and unfunny, though some acknowledged its agreeable cast and harmless holiday appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Kranks' attempt to skip Christmas provokes escalating outrage from their neighbors and exposes communal expectations around celebration.
Luther and Nora jointly plan the cruise, resist their neighborhood, and scramble together when their daughter's return changes the stakes.
The couple tries to redirect their $6,000 Christmas budget toward a Caribbean cruise before family obligations restore the importance of gathering.
The Kranks face neighborhood harassment, missing decorations, and an urgent effort to recreate Christmas within hours.
Films like Christmas with the Kranks, and why
Deck the Halls
Shared holiday comedy, suburban ensemble, escalating seasonal mishaps, and pressure to conform to communal traditions.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Shared family-friendly christmas setting, broad slapstick, sentimental reconciliation, and overcrowded holiday chaos.
The Santa Clause
Shared feel-good holiday comedy, consumerism satire, family reunion pressure, and last-minute festive transformation.
Movie Details
- Director
- Joe Roth
- Release Date
- 2004-11-24
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (1344)
Cast
- Tim Allen
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Dan Aykroyd
- M. Emmet Walsh
- Elizabeth Franz
- Erik Per Sullivan
- Cheech Marin
- Jake Busey
- Austin Pendleton
- Tom Poston
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Christmas with the Kranks about?
- A suburban couple's attempt to escape Christmas spending collapses into frantic, sentimental holiday chaos when their daughter unexpectedly comes home.
- What is Christmas with the Kranks like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Christmas with the Kranks as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Christmas with the Kranks violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Christmas with the Kranks.
- What did critics think of Christmas with the Kranks?
- Critics broadly found the film broad, thin, and unfunny, though some acknowledged its agreeable cast and harmless holiday appeal.
- Which films are like Christmas with the Kranks?
- Films with a similar feel include Deck the Halls, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and The Santa Clause.
- How long is Christmas with the Kranks?
- Christmas with the Kranks runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Christmas with the Kranks?
- In United States, Christmas with the Kranks streams on Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
